Urticaria. This is a close-up view of wheals with white-to-light-pink color centrally and peripheral erythema. These are the classic lesions of hives, or urticaria. Some hives are caused by allergies to such things as foods, medications, and insect stings, but the large majority of cases are not allergic, and no specific cause for them is ever found. It is characteristic that they are transient and highly pruritic. The goal of treating most cases of ordinary urticaria is to relieve symptoms while the condition goes away by itself.